Ocho Rios Info
From the Jamaica Gleaner's Tour
Jamaica:
OCHO RIOS, or Ochee' as it is known locally, has experienced such explosive growth over the last decade that few people can recall the sleepy fishing village, bauxite port and stream-laced nirvana that once existed. Today it is a high density town of hotels, condominium complexes, office blocks, multiple shopping centers and traffic congestion but still one of the favorite cruise ship ports in the Caribbean. The economy of the town is based almost entirely on tourism. The Urban Development Corporation, a government company responsible for much of the development still plays a central role, assisted by the St. Ann Development Company, directors of which include prominent local citizens sympathetic to the incumbent government. The vigorous St. Ann Chamber
of Commerce, representing a wide cross
section of business and tourism entities attempts
to monitor and guide development of the town. The
government owns 3000 acres of land on the west of
the town near Dunns River and an incomparable
beach at Laughing Waters. This area is slated for
development and there is talk of another resort
town, a twin for Ocho Rios.
Ocho Rios and its environs offer a wide variety of visitor accommodation. Two adjacent multistory hotels on Ocho Rios bay were cleverly married to produce the Jamaica Grande: with 720 rooms it is the islands largest hotel, while extensive conference facilities, state of the art Jamaican Me Crazy disco, clover-shaped pool fed by a 26 foot artificial waterfall, etc. make it one of the most impressive. The all-inclusive genre is represented by Sandals Dunns River, Couples and Ciboney; small inns include Mantalent Inn and Almond Tree; Shaw Park Beach Hotel is popular and versatile, and the range of self-catering condominiums includes Turtle Towers, Fisherman's Point, Sandcastles, Sombra and Columbus Heights. Two unique properties are Enchanted Gardens (with icy natural waterfalls and steaming open air Jacuzzis) and posh Jamaica Inn situated on what is arguably the best beach on the north coast and so small and successful that it does not need to advertise. Ocho Rios welcomes over a thousand cruise ship passengers every week. Most of these are whisked away to various attractions on pre-booked tours or taken shopping at plazas like Soni or Taj Mahal, the last being an architectural parody of India's matchless tomb strategically placed opposite the exit from the pier. Plaza owners pay bus and taxi drivers money for each tourist delivered inside one of these plazas a fact that infuriates shopkeepers in less affluent locations. There are four official craft markets in Ocho Rios and an illegal one along Fern Gully, which, by the time of printing, may well have been displaced by The Ocho Rios Clean-up campaign instigated in June 1995.
Restaurants Eating options range from elegant gourmet restaurants through fast food outlets (Kentucky Fried, Burger King, Shakey's) to jerked snacks at Jerk Village. A cross section of well established restaurants include Evitas and Almond Tree, The Ruins where you dine by waterfall, Glenn's Place (with a bonus of piano bar or jazz), Trade Winds and Blue Cantina (2 locations). Bill's Place is a very popular watering hole, while the local version of nouvelle cuisine offered by Rastafarian brethren Javies and Muggy at Jungle Lobster House under the old White River bridge is highly rated. Most all-inclusives sell day or night passes which cover all you can eat or drink plus entertainment and sports facilities. Ochee swings at night with discos and bars, live bands and floor shows at most hotels. Top class artists are frequently presented in concert at showman Keith Foote's Little Pub on main street.
OCHO RIOS, or Ochee' as it is known locally, has experienced such explosive growth over the last decade that few people can recall the sleepy fishing village, bauxite port and stream-laced nirvana that once existed. Today it is a high density town of hotels, condominium complexes, office blocks, multiple shopping centers and traffic congestion but still one of the favorite cruise ship ports in the Caribbean. The economy of the town is based almost entirely on tourism. The Urban Development Corporation, a government company responsible for much of the development still plays a central role, assisted by the St. Ann Development Company, directors of which include prominent local citizens sympathetic to the incumbent government. The vigorous St. Ann Chamber
Ocho Rios and its environs offer a wide variety of visitor accommodation. Two adjacent multistory hotels on Ocho Rios bay were cleverly married to produce the Jamaica Grande: with 720 rooms it is the islands largest hotel, while extensive conference facilities, state of the art Jamaican Me Crazy disco, clover-shaped pool fed by a 26 foot artificial waterfall, etc. make it one of the most impressive. The all-inclusive genre is represented by Sandals Dunns River, Couples and Ciboney; small inns include Mantalent Inn and Almond Tree; Shaw Park Beach Hotel is popular and versatile, and the range of self-catering condominiums includes Turtle Towers, Fisherman's Point, Sandcastles, Sombra and Columbus Heights. Two unique properties are Enchanted Gardens (with icy natural waterfalls and steaming open air Jacuzzis) and posh Jamaica Inn situated on what is arguably the best beach on the north coast and so small and successful that it does not need to advertise. Ocho Rios welcomes over a thousand cruise ship passengers every week. Most of these are whisked away to various attractions on pre-booked tours or taken shopping at plazas like Soni or Taj Mahal, the last being an architectural parody of India's matchless tomb strategically placed opposite the exit from the pier. Plaza owners pay bus and taxi drivers money for each tourist delivered inside one of these plazas a fact that infuriates shopkeepers in less affluent locations. There are four official craft markets in Ocho Rios and an illegal one along Fern Gully, which, by the time of printing, may well have been displaced by The Ocho Rios Clean-up campaign instigated in June 1995.
Restaurants Eating options range from elegant gourmet restaurants through fast food outlets (Kentucky Fried, Burger King, Shakey's) to jerked snacks at Jerk Village. A cross section of well established restaurants include Evitas and Almond Tree, The Ruins where you dine by waterfall, Glenn's Place (with a bonus of piano bar or jazz), Trade Winds and Blue Cantina (2 locations). Bill's Place is a very popular watering hole, while the local version of nouvelle cuisine offered by Rastafarian brethren Javies and Muggy at Jungle Lobster House under the old White River bridge is highly rated. Most all-inclusives sell day or night passes which cover all you can eat or drink plus entertainment and sports facilities. Ochee swings at night with discos and bars, live bands and floor shows at most hotels. Top class artists are frequently presented in concert at showman Keith Foote's Little Pub on main street.